It took me a bit of time to puzzle out what the heck we are saying, because there are some tricky words in there, but I was pretty horrified when I did.
In the totalitarian regime I had then recently escaped we had our patriotic rituals, but most of they were not daily at school. (We had some pseudo-military salutey and slogan-shoutey stuff for opening and closing of the year and special occasions). But even in summer camp where we did have a daily affirmation ritual it did not involve swearing loyalty. The allegedly free country demanding a more regular and frankly more demanding show of patriotism was a bit of cognitive dissonance I was not prepared for.
We were required to stand for it, but did not have to recite. I refrained, but by the one time when it actually mattered, at my naturalization ceremony where it may have been appropriate, all the meaning had been worn out from it.
(no subject)
It took me a bit of time to puzzle out what the heck we are saying, because there are some tricky words in there, but I was pretty horrified when I did.
In the totalitarian regime I had then recently escaped we had our patriotic rituals, but most of they were not daily at school. (We had some pseudo-military salutey and slogan-shoutey stuff for opening and closing of the year and special occasions). But even in summer camp where we did have a daily affirmation ritual it did not involve swearing loyalty. The allegedly free country demanding a more regular and frankly more demanding show of patriotism was a bit of cognitive dissonance I was not prepared for.
We were required to stand for it, but did not have to recite. I refrained, but by the one time when it actually mattered, at my naturalization ceremony where it may have been appropriate, all the meaning had been worn out from it.
(no subject)